Circulation

Who can borrow from Staley Library?

  • Millikin patrons: Borrowing privileges are available to Millikin students, faculty (including emeritus faculty), administration, staff, and trustees. These privileges include loans of Millikin's circulating materials, reserves, and interlibrary loan services. Family members of faculty and trustees should not use the faculty member's I.D. card. Instead, each family member of 16 years and above wishing to use Staley Library may obtain a complimentary commmunity borrower's card.
  • I-Share patrons: Reciprocal borrowing privileges are granted at no cost to those holding current, valid cards from other I-Share libraries. These include patrons of Richland Community College.
  • Alumni patrons: Alumni borrower cards valid for 1 year will be issued at no cost to Millikin University alumni. Please bring your 1) photo ID, and 2) proof of current address (may be same as photo ID). Staley Library staff will confirm alumni status with the online Millikin alumni directory.
    • The card may be renewed annually (patron will be asked to reverify current address) and may be used to borrow circulating Staley Library materials only. Interlibrary loan services should be handled by the patron's primary service library.
    • Alumni patrons wishing to use Staley Library computers are not required to have a library card, but must have current photo ID and be prepared to follow computer use policies.
  • Community patrons: Community borrower cards valid for 1 year will be issued at no cost to those 16 years or older currently attending Walther Theological Seminary (WTS), or those 16 years or older holding current, valid cards from the Decatur Public Library (DPL). Please bring your 1) current WTS or DPL card, 2) a photo ID, and 3) proof of current address (may be same as photo ID) to apply for a no-cost community borrower card. 
    • The card may be renewed annually (patron will be asked to reverify current address) and may be used to borrow circulating Staley Library materials only (limit of 20 items total; 5 items total for high school students). Interlibrary loan services should be handled by the patron's primary service library.
    • If you do not have a current DPL card or Walther Seminary ID, but are 16 or older and can provide proof of address in Macon County and a photo ID, a Staley Library community borrower's card is $10/year.
    • If you do not have a current DPL card, but are 16 or older and can provide a current high school photo ID for a school within Macon County as well as proof of address, a community borrower's card is $5/year.
    • Community patrons wishing to use Staley Library computers are not required to have a library card, but must have current photo ID and be prepared to follow computer use policies.
  • Other patrons: Please contact your home library to arrange an interlibrary loan request for materials from Staley Library.

What are Staley Library's loan periods?

If an item you have borrowed is needed (recalled) by another Millikin borrower, your loaned item's loan period will be shortened. You will be notified of the new due date assigned.

The following table summarizes loan periods and fine policies for Staley Library.

Item Type Loan Period Number Charged Renewals Up To Overdue Charge
Stacks Books, Curriculum Library, Juvenile, Leisure Books, and Music Scores 4 weeks (16 weeks faculty & graduate students)

MU: limit 100 items total

H.S.:limit 5 items total; no Curriculum Library items

Community/Alumni/Retiree users - limit 20 items total

16 weeks (64 weeks faculty & graduate students)

After 35 days overdue, assumed lost and replacement fees are charged.
Recordings (CDs & LPs) and A-V (VHS & DVDs) 1 week

MU: limit 100 items total

H.S.:limit 5 items total

Community/Alumni/Retiree users - limit 20 items total

 4 weeks After 35 days overdue, assumed lost and replacement fees are charged.
Newspapers, Periodicals, Reference, Special Collections/Archives Do not circulate; in-library use only      
Reserves 2 hr or 4hr library use only; 1, 3, or 7 day loans 2 (reserves are for MU patrons only) 1 (or NONE if item is in demand) none See Reserves page for overdue charges.

Loan periods for patrons from other I-Share libraries, and for Millikin patrons borrowing from those libraries through interlibrary loan, are summarized on this website.

How do I renew items?

Items other than Reserves may be renewed three times, then they must be returned or brought physically to Staley Library for renewal. Renewals may reduced if item is recalled. Staley Library materials and materials loaned through other I-Share member libraries may be renewed either online or in-person:

Online Renewals

  • You will need to log in to Renew Books in Millikin Library Discovery.
  • Click on your name, then "My Loans."
  • Click in the boxes next to the items you wish to renew and then click "Renew Selected." Be sure to make note of the new due date(s)!

If you have questions or problems regarding renewing library materials online, or would like to request an extension on your loan, please call circulation at 217-424-6214.

In-Person Renewals

  • Bring your Millikin ID card to the circulation desk at Staley Library.
  • For interlibrary loan materials:
    • Items with yellow slips (I-Share items): Follow same steps as above to renew online or in-person, renew up to 16 weeks, maximum for print items, and up to 4 weeks maximum for non-print items. If you are unable to renew your item, call 217-424-3560 for assistance.
    • Items with pink slips (OCLC WorldCat/ILLiad items): Most items can be renewed. Bring the item to Staley Library, email ill@millikin.edu, or call 217-424-3560. Please give as much information as possible, including your name, the title of the item, the transaction number (on the pink slip), and the original due date.

Why was my renewal request denied?

Renewals may be blocked or denied for a number of reasons, including:

  • You have already renewed the item the maximum amount.
  • The item has been recalled by the library.
  • You have unresolved fees in excess of $30.00 ($50.00 for faculty).
  • You have items more than 21 days overdue on your account.
  • You have lost items on your account.
  • The item type does not allow for renewal.
  • You library account is expired or will soon expire (system will not allow due dates past account expiration date).

What if I have overdue or lost materials?

You will receive one courtesy reminder and three overdue notices. These notices will be sent via email unless we do not have an email address for you. Overdue notices are courtesy notices - you are responsible for materials you borrow whether you receive notices or not.

  • The courtesy reminder is sent out before the material is due.
  • The first overdue notice is automatically generated 7 days after the material becomes overdue.
  • The second overdue notice is generated after 21 days overdue.
  • The assumption is made that if material is not returned within 35 days of falling overdue, it has been lost. Thus, the third and final notice is a Lost Item Billing Notice which reflects a replacement fee.
  • We search the stacks in conjunction with sending out the lost book bills, to assure that the items are not in the library.
  • As long as you have materials overdue more than 35 days or outstanding fines in excess of $30.00 ($50.00 for faculty), you will be blocked from borrowing additional material from this or any other I-Share library.

The standard lost item fees are:

  • $50.00 per book replacement fee
  • $100.00 per video/DVD replacement fee
  • $30.00 per CD/LP/vinyl replacement fee (Note that these replacement charges apply even if only the liner notes are missing.)
  • $40.00 per musical score replacement fee (Note that replacement charges apply even if only 1 part is missing.)
  • Note: In cases where the true replacement cost of a lost item is substantially more or less than Staley Library's standard lost item fees, the patron may be charged the actual cost to the library to replace the item with a new or like new copy, plus shipping.

The replacement fee reflects not only the library's average out-of-pocket cost for replacing the item, but also the library's costs connected with billing the patron, locating the item, ordering it, cataloging it (including withdrawing the lost item), labeling it, and re-shelving it. After Staley Library receives payment for a lost item, no refunds may be given (even if the item is found at a later date). Payment of the lost item replacement fee is considered acknowledgement on the part of the patron that they have lost the item.

Once loaned items reach lost status in our system, or if they are returned with damage, replacement costs will be be charged by the library to Millikin accounts. If lost items are returned in good condition within the next 60 days after that charge, the replacement fee will be refunded.

If you have combined outstanding bills of over $30.00 ($50.00 for faculty) at this or any other library, you will be denied borrowing privileges at this and other I-Share libraries until you have cleared up all such obligations. Other I-Share libraries may request Staley Library to suspend a patron's borrowing and interlibrary loan privileges in cases of unresolved fines or fees. Non I-Share libraries may request Staley Library to replace lost or damaged materials; such costs will be billed to the responsible patron.

How do I pay my fine/lost material fee?

Current students, staff, and faculty: Your fines/fees will be billed to your Millikin account. You may also bring a check, made out to Millikin University to the circulation desk. Please note "library replacement" in the notes field.

Alumni, I-Share, and other Non-Millikin borrowers: Please use our online payment site, or send us a check for the amount made out to Millikin University to the following address:
Attn: Fines
Staley Library, Millikin University
1184 W. Main St.
Decatur, IL 62522

Please also include a note with information about the item you are paying for (title, author, etc.) and, if paying for someone else, the name of the person owing the fine.

Question about fines/fees? Please contact Staley Library at: 217.424.6214, or lfines@millikin.edu

Hey, I think I returned that! (Filing a claims returned)

Your current account information may be viewed online. Staley Library takes care to ensure your account is accurate.

Checking-out:

  • Items are only checked out to patrons with proper, valid identification (a Millikin University ID, a Staley Library card, other valid I-Share library card, or other photo ID).
  • Items will not be checked out to a second party in a first party's name without proper permission.

Checking-in:

  • Materials are retrieved from the locked book return each morning and from the secured book returns at the Circulation/Reserves desk throughout the day.
  • Trained staff members scan each item's unique barcode into our automated database.
  • The item is then automatically and immediately removed from your account.
  • To insure accuracy, each item's barcode is scanned a second time before the item is re-shelved.

Avoid blocks to your account:

  • Do not loan items checked out to your account to another party (you will be held responsible for any lost items).
  • Return items on time, or renew them if needed.
  • Call Staley Library Circulation if you have any questions regarding your account, or need to discuss arranging an extended loan: 217-424-6214.

However, if you believe that you have returned an item still on your account, please read the following:

  • Send us an email with your name and ID number, a list of the items you believe you returned, and description of when and where you believe they were returned.
  • We will search for the item in the library within 48 hours. If the item is an interlibrary loan, we will contact the owning library to ask that they also search for the item.
  • If the item is located, it will be removed from your account and you will be contacted as soon as possible.

If the item is not located upon our initial search:

  • Your item will be added to our search list.
  • Our staff will search for the item for 3 months.
  • You will, in turn, share the responsibility to search for the item among your belongings. (If you locate it, please return the item ASAP)
  • We will put a message on your account allowing you to continue use of your library privileges.
  • If we locate the item at any time within the 3 months, you will be contacted and we will resolve the issue at that point.
  • If the item is NOT located after 3 months of searching, you will be contacted and to discuss the options we have in resolving the situation.

I loaned that to my friend and they said they returned it!

Lending materials that you have borrowed with your own ID to others is strongly discouraged. The person on whose card the materials are borrowed is held responsible for the items (and for any associated fees accrued) until they are returned. (Faculty and administrators with teaching or departmental assistants, please see below.)

I am a faculty member with a teaching assistant, can they pick up & check out materials for me?

If someone else (such as a teaching or departmental assistant) is to borrow library materials or to place items on and remove items from reserve on your behalf, we require your written authorization via a proxy borrowing form. Please fill out the form and send it to the library's circulation department.